Stiffenable capsule clamping ring

ABSTRACT

A capsule clamping ring for implantation in the emptied capsule of the human crystalline lens which can permanently counteract a shrinkage of the capsule thanks to the fact that it can be stiffened after implantation. The open ring—as required for implantation—is designed in such a manner that it can be welded inside the eye. For this purpose, the open ends must touch, the area of contact must be visible through the pupillary opening and thus accessible for the laser, and the colour of the material and the surface geometry must be designed in such a manner that, when irradiated with a laser, locally circumscribed, merging melting zones can form.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention is an implant which can be inserted into the capsule sac of the human eye in the course of an operation on the opaque crystalline lens.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] In an operation on an opaque crystalline lens (grey cataract), in general nowadays the capsule sac of the lens is opened, the opaque interior of the lens is drawn off, and then an artificial lens is inserted into the capsule sac. In the course of the following weeks and months, an individually more or less marked shrinkage of the capsule sac takes place. This is undesirable, especially if the intraocular lens is to be changed at some later time (e.g. in the case of children), or if as wide an expansion of the capsule sac as possible permanently is desired for other reasons, as is known for instance in the case of toric intraocular lenses or in the case of an accommodative implant, such as e.g. from DE19904441. In order to ensure an expansion of the capsule sac, elastic, open rings, with a break in their ring shape, so-called capsule clamping rings in keeping with the state of the art, are well known. They can, it is true, reduce the shrinking process of the capsule sac, but not completely prevent it. The reason for this is that, on the one hand, the capsule clamping ring may not be too stiff, in order that it can still be inserted into the very fragile capsule without injuring it, but, on the other hand, precisely because of that it cannot offer sufficient force to counter the shrinking process. Mechanical elements, with which one could bring about a stiffening of the ring after insertion into the capsule sac, such as pins, rivets, catches (e.g. DE4030899, DE19951148, US2001/0004708, DE19637962), etc. are little suited intraoperatively on account of their smallness, the sensitiveness of the capsule sac and the additional time required during the operation to handle them.

[0003] The object of this present invention is to make a capsule clamping ring available which can be stiffened in a simple manner after its insertion into the capsule sac.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object is solved by the invention in accordance with the distinguishing features of claim 1. The capsule clamping ring is executed in such a manner that its open ends touch after implantation in an overlapping area without any space in between. The overlapping area must lie within the pupillary opening, that is to be dilated if necessary, so that it is visible from outside.

[0005] In this contact area at least, the material is dyed in such a manner that it absorbs the light of a CW laser for the most part for the wavelength for which the refractive media of the eye are transparent. With the help of such a laser, the ends can then be welded inside the capsule sac in accordance with the well-known principles of welding technology, if the parts lying on top of one another are suitable from their surface form to form merging melting zones.

PREFERRED EXECUTION AND EXECUTION ALTERNATIVES

[0006] In its preferred execution, the capsule clamping ring is made of polymethylmetacrylate as this material has proved itself for capsule clamping rings on account of its mechanical properties and its biocompatibility, and because it can be easily welded.

[0007] The outside diameter of the rings is typically about 12-14 mm so that it can resiliently expand the capsule that has an equatorial diameter of ca. 9-11 mm. The thickness of the material of the ring is about 0.2 mm. The ends of the ring are widened out flag-like ca. 2.5 mm inwards in such a manner that, after implantation, a partial overlapping of these flags comes about whereby, as a result of the usual implantation process, the end inserted later into the eye, hereinafter called the “second end” lies in front of the one inserted first. “Before” and “in front” mean, here and hereinafter, in the direction of the cornea of the eye, i.e. parallel to the optical axis; “inside” in the direction of the ring or eye centre, i.e. vertical to the optical axis. The flags are designed in such a manner at the areas touching that they absorb in green, because most of the lasers used in ophthalmology work in this wavelength range (511 mm or 532 mm respectively). In the case of the second flag end at least, the dyeing must not go right through, but only be present on the rear side as the laser light would not otherwise be absorbed at the required point. The flag-like widening inwards is also necessary because the capsule clamping ring would otherwise be concealed by the iris after implantation, and thus no longer accessible for the laser light.

[0008] In another version, the flag of the second end contains small, conical drill holes, whereby the end of the drill hole with the smaller diameter rests against the other flag after implantation. The welding then takes place inside the drill holes. The advantage of this version is that the entire material can absorb uniformly, i.e. can be dyed homogeneously.

[0009] In a further version, the second flag projects less far inwards than the first one does. The second flag is bevelled towards the first one. This makes for good welding in the area of the bevel. In this version the entire material can also be dyed homogeneously. 

1. Capsule clamping ring for implantation into the capsule sac of the human crystalline lens, executed as a ring broken in its ring structure and therefore open characterised by the fact, that the external form of the ring is executed in such a manner that after implantation the open ends touch in an area that is optically accessible from outside the eye, and that the colour of the material in the area of contact is chosen in such a manner that it absorbs the light of a CW laser for which the refractory media of the eye are transparent, and that in the area of contact the surface shape of the parts resting against one another is executed in such a manner that, when a circumscribed area is heated with a CW laser, merging melting zones can forth at both ends.
 2. Capsule clamping ring in accordance with claim 1, characterised by the fact that both its ends are widened flag-like in the direction of the ring centre so that after implantation these two flags lie on top of one another, whereby, with reference to the direction of the cornea, the rear side of the front flag and at least the front side of the rear one absorb the laser light, whereas the front flag is otherwise transparent.
 3. Capsule clamping ring in accordance with claim 1, characterised by the fact that both its ends are widened flag-like in the direction of the ring centre so that after implantation these two flags lie on top of one another, whereby, with reference to the direction of the cornea, the front flag displays crater-shaped drill holes which taper towards the rear flag.
 4. Capsule clamping ring in accordance with claim 1, characterised by the fact that both its ends are widened flag-like in the direction of the ring centre so that after implantation these two flags lie on top of one another, whereby, with reference to the direction of the cornea, the front flag protrudes less far inwards towards the centre of the ring than the rear one does, and is bevelled towards the rear flag in the area of contact. 